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Chen K, Li Y, Yang H. Poor responses and adverse outcomes of myasthenia gravis after thymectomy: Predicting factors and immunological implications. J Autoimmun 2022; 132:102895. [PMID: 36041292 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Myasthenia gravis (MG) has been recognized as a series of heterogeneous but treatable autoimmune conditions. As one of the indispensable therapies, thymectomy can achieve favorable prognosis especially in early-onset generalized MG patients with seropositive acetylcholine receptor antibody. However, poor outcomes, including worsening or relapse of MG, postoperative myasthenic crisis and even post-thymectomy MG, are also observed in certain scenarios. The responses to thymectomy may be associated with the general characteristics of patients, disease conditions of MG, autoantibody profiles, native or ectopic thymic pathologies, surgical-related factors, pharmacotherapy and other adjuvant modalities, and the presence of comorbidities and complications. However, in addition to these variations among individuals, pathological remnants and the abnormal immunological milieu and responses potentially represent major mechanisms that underlie the detrimental neurological outcomes after thymectomy. We underscore these plausible risk factors and discuss the immunological implications therein, which may be conducive to better managing the indications for thymectomy, to avoiding modifiable risk factors of poor responses and adverse outcomes, and to developing post-thymectomy preventive and therapeutic strategies for MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangzhi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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Chen D, Peng Y, Li Z, Jin W, Zhou R, Li Y, Xu Q, Yang H. Prognostic Analysis of Thymoma-Associated Myasthenia Gravis (MG) in Chinese Patients and Its Implication of MG Management: Experiences from a Tertiary Hospital. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2020; 16:959-967. [PMID: 32341644 PMCID: PMC7166054 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s243519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoantibody-mediated neuromuscular disorder. Approximately 10-20% of all MG patients experience thymoma (benign tumor arising from thymus tissue). Thymectomy has been the standard of care for thymomatous myasthenia gravis (TMG). However, the clinical outcome of TMG after thymectomy has not been sufficiently studied, especially the long-term prognosis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics contributing to the prognostic factors of TMG. METHODS We reviewed 70 TMG patients in the Xiangya Hospital and classified them into the minimal manifestation (MM) group and No MM group, according to the long-term treatment outcome. MM-or-better status was defined as the goal treatment for TMG patients. We collected and analyzed the demographic data, the WHO classification of thymoma, MG-associated antibody levels, disease severity, treatment-related data as well as clinical outcome at six months. Variables selected by univariate analysis were used in the multivariate logistic regression model to identify the prognostic factors. RESULTS The differences in clinical outcome at six months and worst QMGS were significant, while the differences in other factors were insignificant between groups. Clinical outcome at six months (OR=23.5 95% CI 2.4-231.5, P=0.007) and dyspnea before thymectomy (OR=0.2, 95% CI 0.03-0.75, P=0.021) were identified as the prognostic factors of long-term treatment. CONCLUSION Demographic and clinical features were similar in TMG patients treated at our hospital. The early achievement of MM-or-better status may indicate a good outcome in the long term. Dyspnea before thymectomy appears to associate with a poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuyao Peng
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhibin Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Wanlin Jin
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Ran Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiushuang Xu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, People's Republic of China
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Kato T, Kawaguchi K, Fukui T, Nakamura S, Hakiri S, Nakatochi M, Yokoi K. Risk Factors for the Exacerbation of Myasthenic Symptoms After Surgical Therapy for Myasthenia Gravis and Thymoma. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019; 32:378-385. [PMID: 31518701 DOI: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Extended thymectomy is employed for patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and/or thymoma with elevated serum antiacetylcholine receptor antibody (AchR) titers. However, MG symptoms occasionally worsen in post-thymectomy patients. We explored the risk factors for exacerbation of MG symptoms after surgical therapy for patients with MG and/or thymoma with an elevated AchR titer. We retrospectively analyzed 90 patients suffering from MG and/or thymoma with an elevated AchR titer who underwent thymectomy in our institute. Patients were classified into Improved, Unchanged, and Exacerbated groups by assessing their postoperative myasthenic symptoms, amount of medication, and incidence of myasthenic crisis. Risk factors for postoperative exacerbation of myasthenic symptoms were assessed by comparing the Exacerbated with the Improved and Unchanged groups. Of the 90 patients, 29 were classified into the Improved group, 47 into the Unchanged group, and 14 into the Exacerbated group. The presence of thymoma and Masaoka stage were significantly different between the Exacerbated and Improved/Unchanged groups. Although preoperative AchR titers did not significantly differ among the groups, the perioperative AchR titers in the Exacerbated group were significantly higher than those in the other groups (P = 0.003). A multiple logistic regression analysis with stepwise forward selection showed that advanced-stage thymoma was a risk factor for postoperative exacerbation of myasthenic symptoms (P = 0.007). Patients with advanced-stage thymoma have a relative risk for exacerbation of myasthenic symptoms after surgical therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taketo Kato
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Koji Kawaguchi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takayuki Fukui
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shota Nakamura
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shuhei Hakiri
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakatochi
- Division of Data Science, Department of Advanced Medicine, Data Coordinating Center, Nagoya University Hospital, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kohei Yokoi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
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Geng Y, Dong J, Zhou Q. Rapid improvement of muscle weakness post-thymectomy indicates good long-term neurological outcome in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis. Eur J Neurol 2019; 26:1421-1423. [PMID: 31299129 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study was conducted to evaluate whether post-thymectomy rapid remission of ocular myasthenia gravis (oMG) is a prognostic indicator of good long-term neurological outcome. METHODS Eighty-four oMG patients who underwent thymectomy at our institute were enrolled. The incidence of 5-year complete stable remission (CSR) was compared between patients with rapid remission of MG status (<1 month after surgery) and those with non-rapid remission. RESULTS Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the incidence of CSR was higher in oMG patients with rapid remission than in those without rapid remission (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that rapid remission (odds ratio 16.34, 95% confidence interval 3.58-74.60, P < 0.001) is an independent prognostic factor for CSR. CONCLUSION Postoperative rapid remission of MG status predicts a higher likelihood of complete remission in patients with oMG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Geng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - J Dong
- Department of Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Q Zhou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Yang Y, Zhang M, Ye Y, Ma S, Fan L, Li Z. High frequencies of circulating Tfh-Th17 cells in myasthenia gravis patients. Neurol Sci 2017; 38:1599-1608. [PMID: 28578482 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-017-3009-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies show that the frequencies of circulating follicullar helper T (cTfh) cells are significantly higher in myasthenia gravis (MG) patients compared with healthy controls (HC). And, they are positively correlated with levels of serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (anti-AchR Ab). It is unclear whether cTfh cell subset frequencies are altered and what role they play in MG patients. In order to clarify this, we examined the frequencies of cTfh cell counterparts, their subsets, and circulating plasmablasts in MG patients by flow cytometry. We determined the concentrations of serum anti-AChR Ab by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We assayed the function of cTfh cell subsets by flow cytometry and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). We found higher frequencies of cTfh cell counterparts, cTfh-Th17 cells, and plasmablasts in MG patients compared with HC. The frequencies of cTfh cell counterparts and cTfh-Th17 cells were positively correlated with the frequencies of plasmablasts and the concentrations of anti-AChR Ab in MG patients. Functional assays showed that activated cTfh-Th17 cells highly expressed key molecular features of Tfh cells including ICOS, PD-1, and IL-21. Results indicate that, just like cTfh cell counterparts, cTfh-Th17 cells may play a role in the immunopathogenesis and the production of anti-AChR Ab of MG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongxiang Yang
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710038, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, PLA 422nd Hospital, Zhanjiang, 524005, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710038, China
| | - Yuqin Ye
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, PLA 163rd Hospital (Second Affiliated Hospital of Hunan Normal University), Changsha, 410000, China
| | - Shan Ma
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710077, China
| | - Lingling Fan
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, Xi'an, 710077, China
| | - Zhuyi Li
- Department of Neurology, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710038, China.
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